The Warri/Effurun water schemehas remained a pipe dream 31 years after work began on it. OKUNGBOWA AIWERIE reports.
SINCE 1989 when its foundation stone was laid, the Warri/Effurun water scheme, which was initially financed by African Development Bank (AfDB) in conjunction with the Delta State government, has remained a pipe dream.
After the creation of Delta State in 1991 during the military era from the defunct Bendel State, the Warri/Effurun water project was transferred to the Delta State government.
But in the intervening years, successive administrations neglected the project despite its capacity to improve the living standards of millions of Deltans.
Despite annual budgetary provisions, the project meant to provide potable water for homes in Warri, Effurun and Udu communities, have been left uncompleted.
Finally in 2016, the Delta State government, citing funding challenges, announced plans to concession the 68,000 cubic metres per day water project through a Public Private Partnership (PPP) to a private investor.
Ex-Water Resources Commissioner, Fidelis Tilije had, on that event, said upon completion of construction works, “public, economic and potable water will be reticulate and connected to 15,500 households every day at a very affordable rate and indeed cheaper than the price of the current sachet water on public display within the Warri-Effurun catchment area.”
He said the project will gulp additional N13 billion, adding that “the benefits of this arrangement which will be for 12 years include production of 68,000 cubic meters of water per day and will provide 500 jobs and royalties to government.
Tilije said: “Clearly the provision of potable water for our people will directly cause reduction in the incidence of water-related diseases and its attendant hospital bills in the state.”
But despite the humongous funds already expended, the scheme has not been put to use except when it was test-run during the regime of Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan.
That test-run, The Nation gathered, witnessed an increase in the incidence of ruptured water pipelines across the twin cities of Warri/Effurun, thus bringing the integrity of the pipes laid many years back to question.
But four years since the concession of the project at a cost of $70 million under Dr. Okowa’s regime, the Warri/Effurun water scheme is still not functional.
Save for a few security personnel, the facility is deserted with its premises overgrown with weeds.
Also, the water project recently suffered a major setback as fire gutted some of its facilities.
A source who preferred anonymity told The Nation that vital equipment was destroyed during the fire outbreak.
The net result is that residents in the twin cities of Warri/Effurun, out of necessity, depend on the many rivers and streams in the locality for domestic consumption.
Another major source of water for residents is rain water alleged to be acidic and carcinogenic due to poisonous chemical elements occasioned by gas flaring and other forms of pollution that usually mix with the water.
Many residents have also resorted to digging boreholes for water, which are often not properly treated for domestic consumption and at times for sale to the general public.
Arguably, the high incidence of typhoid fever and diarrhea cases reported at health facilities may not be unconnected with underground water that contains high levels of iron.
Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, since assumption of office in 2015, has prioritised the resuscitation of the water scheme.
While defending the decision to concession the water scheme at a forum recently, Okowa said the build, own, operate and transfer arrangement (BOOT) was the “best way to go”.
He said his administration took the decision because “government lacked the technical expertise to manage such complex operations.”
According to Okowa, when we came in, we discovered that it was difficult for us to complete the project and we did not have a clear understanding of how to manage the project. The contractor was supposed to train engineers from the ministry to manage the project. Unfortunately, the project did not come to completion.
He said: “We discovered that as a state government, to borrow money to complete the water scheme was the wrong course. We do not have the technical know-how to manage the scheme because of its complexities. Someone who knows what to do will manage it for 25 years. He will be in the position to handle it, recoup his money and provide services for the people.”
Adducing reasons why funds earmarked by the AfDB did not complete the project, Okowa, who was Commissioner for Water Resources Development during the tenure of James Ibori was emphatic that the distortions to the original plan ensured the water scheme was uncompleted.
He said: “The initial money budgeted could not complete the scheme because of certain decisions taken which were not in the best interest of the State. We had the full scheme in Warri and a section taken to Otokutu. That distorted the entire plan.”
Okowa hinged the delay in the completion of the project on inability of the contractor to access the N4.5 billion Fidelity Bank loan since 2016 when the loan was approved by the Delta State House of Assembly.
His words: “The loan request to the House was a guarantee, so that the contractor can go to the bank. It was a build, own, operate and transfer arrangement. That was the best way to go.
“One of the contractors involved in the project bid to take over the job and that process has been on. So when they (Delta Legislature) approved that guarantee, it took such a long time to have access to the money. You know Nigerian banks and their antics.
“It was a loan to him, but partly guaranteed by government because it is a government scheme that we were ceding out in a BOOT arrangement. He is to manage it at his cost before it is transferred back to government. The contractor is back to site as he has been able to get money from the bank.”
According to Okowa, the private investor has been able to access the loan and has returned to site.
He said: “The contractor is back on site because he’s been able to get money from the bank.”
But the unanswered question is will the novel concept of metering through which the investor is expected to recoup his investment over a 12-year period work?
Will Deltans, long used to sourcing water independent of government, purchase metered water for domestic consumption?
The current Commissioner for Water Resources Development, Mr. Martin Okonta expressed his optimism that the novel idea of metering potable water into 30,000 homes will work.
He said Deltans are a discerning people and will buy metered water if they are convinced of the quality of the product.
He said: “Certainly, it will work. In the past, provision of water was seen as a social good. Nobody stressed the importance of water as an economic good. Metered water is the way to go as it will enable the investor to recoup his investment. Deltans are a discerning people, so long as the metered water is cheap, clean and hygienic, they will buy.
He urged patience from residents of Warri and Effurun given that the water scheme has suffered vandalism, even as he stressed that the development will be done in phases.
His words: “The whole process to get the scheme on stream is going to be done in phases. The initial scoping of the job has reached advanced stage, so I urge patience.
Continuing, he said: “Residents in Warri/Effurun and Udu must be patient because the route taken by government is a win-win situation. The investor is familiar with the project having played a prominent role in the construction of the scheme.”
Okonta believes that the goal of the Okowa administration to pipe water into 30,000 homes is achievable, adding that the capacity of the water scheme will make the goal achievable.
His words: “To pipe water into 30,000 homes is our goal. What we have on ground can adequately take care of such numbers. Our first job is to repair the massive treatment plant then repairs of the 17 boreholes will follow. Once the water is treated, we get to the stage of pumping into homes. With the caliber of expert on the job, I do not see why we cannot deliver water as planned.”
Although the initial timeline for completion of the water scheme has elapsed and no longer feasible, Mr. Okonta believes the current administration will deliver on its promises.
But as Deltans await the Okowa administration to deliver on its promise to provide potable water, many are hopeful that the dark days of getting water from unhygienic sources will be a thing of the past.
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